Friday, May 24, 2013

No idea how we're back here already...the end of the school year, but we are.

Ryan is finishing up 5th grade, and in addition to the normal end of school activities, we've been navigating through some 'tween things [talks about 'the talk', noticing things/people that 5 months ago weren't even a blip on her radar, the realization that most of her friends are heading to another middle school, establishing genuine friendships with boys [what?!], boys + girls hanging out together, not all of her friends being friends with one another].......let's just say it's been quite the ride.

If not for Erika, Michelle, Mallory + Melissa, I for sure would've lost my marbles. Thank you for listening and giggling [alot] with me, and as always, offering support. :)

So, end of school year means beginning of summer break [June 6th is the official start!]....which will hopefully mean lots of time at this place in the picture above...........the beach.....and really just hanging out and enjoying lazy summer days. Cannot. Wait.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

If my chucks back in college could talk....oh, the stories they would tell. Seriously.

I don't care how old you are, in my opinion, a simple pair of white chuck taylor's [or even the jack purcell] are a perfect summer shoe. They look great with a pair of jeans + a t-shirt, or a skirt/maxi-dress. Very versatile!

Awhile back I picked up a pair of Jack Purcell's for Ryan, and customized them for her. She loved them, and loved it even more that no one else had that same pair of shoes. One of a kind!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Nickelson Wooster is the epitome of cool. I mean look at him. Every single detail. So, so good.He's currently the Senior VP of Trend + Design at JCPenney, and has worked with the likes of Gilt Groupe, Thom Browne, Inc. and Neiman Marcus in the past. Not a bad resume, huh?cp

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Lack of posts lately. Big time. Really big time. Sorry folks.Ok, so in addition to being a magazine wh()re....I also love myself a good book. I have an entire bookcase up in our home office to prove it. Even in this age of e-readers, I will never be able to walk away from purchasing books. There is something so special about buying a book, reading it/falling in love with a story, then sharing that with a friend/family member. I view it as a special bond you share with someone when you lend them a book.One of my favorite books ever, The Book Thief is one that I've shared with several close people in my life. That book has even traveled to Europe and back with a friend. I recently went to grab it from my bookcase to lend to someone, and an airline boarding pass stub fell out. It had belonged to a friend who read it, and likely used the stub as a book mark. Most would think nothing of that, but I thought it was pretty neat.E-reader or book....which one are you?How awesome is the color-coding of books in the picture above?! I love it.cp

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Let's talk poufs.... are you a fan?I think I am..[well, a reluctant one anyway]. I understand what their purpose is supposed to be....additional seating, but is that really going to be comfortable? I mean, really?They look cool. No doubt about it...but the verdict is still out for me.Clearly I'm in the minority on this though, as everyone + their mother is talking about/purchasing them.What do you think? Pouf or no pouf...that is the question.talk soon.cp

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

I think it's coming....warmer temperatures. The sun is shining today! It's chilly, but the sun makes it bearable..and the temps are supposed to start creeping up over the next few days.I, for one have decided to boycott the winter coat. No more! Spring coat and a scarf, that's what's happening over here.Hope you have a great day!talk sooncpphoto by Luke Shadbolt

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Raise your hand if you know who Emily is. Raise your other hand if you're as big a fan as I am. Meet Emily Weiss, founder + creative director of Into the Gloss, a website dedicated to beauty. Her style is a combination of tomboy + high fashion, and she pulls it off so naturally.She's a cool cat, and I would love to hang out and shoot the $hit with her. ;)talk sooncp

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

I know. It's been a long time since I've posted. I don't even dare try to justify it. It's just life...sometimes it passes a lot more quickly than you'd like it too.Spring, are you there? Are you coming? Because I'm sick of putting my winter coat on. Sick of it. Mal + I joked last week that in protest to this cold weather, we're going to dress in black everyday until the weather changes. So, today I am dressed in a lovely combination of gray + black. But what I WANT to be wearing is this outfit above. Simple + spring like. And that straw clutch.....I used to have one of those growing up. Don't worry, I wasn't smart enough to keep it or anything [stupid]...so, I might have to purchase and then keep it for Ryan when she's older.Ah, it's nice to be back.:)talk sooncpjcrewessie

Monday, March 11, 2013

Until I'd say about 2-3 years ago, I would often find myself in a state of boredom....or constantly looking for something to do. It drove Brett insane. All of the running around, a party here, an event there. Constant motion.

Then a few summers ago, it all changed. I was no longer interested in jam packing my time with activities, just for the sake of activities [if that makes any sense]. My day job/career is deadline driven. There is no getting around that. I live + die for the deadline. It keeps you moving...so much so that one day you wake up and realize that months have gone by. That, I believe is what changed my mindset.

I can't control the deadlines at work. I walk in, and I [ + my team] essentially give my time away to others. It is what it is. BUT, I do have control of my non-work life, and I've chosen to quiet it down a bit.

My weekends now pretty much consist of me hanging out with Brett + Ryan. No major agenda, for the most part. Yes, we still have parties and events to attend...but only the important ones. Whereas I used to fill every waking moment with stuff [some that mattered, most that didn't], I have become much pickier with my time.

I now laugh at Ryan when she will lament 'mom, I'm bored......'

I'm hoping it doesn't take her as long as it took me to realize the importance of a little silence and just being. :)

Friday, March 8, 2013

It's Friday!!!Work has been nuts...with a capital N. Today, Mal, Melissa + I actually got to leave the building [insert gasp here!] for lunch.Taco Joint. It was delicioso!

Hope you all have a great weekend. The sun is out + shining brightly here in Chicago, and it's supposed to hit 50 degrees on Sunday. Yes!We'll be back to regular programming next week with Shut Up! Friday. :)talk sooncp

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

It's March 6. And that means it's the season premiere of 'It's a Brad Brad World' on Bravo.Who's excited?....This girl is. Really, really excited.In my mind Brad + I are born to be buddies.....I mean we've even exchanged tweets [2 to be exact].....;)He's sweet, and incredibly likeable, and his partner Gary Janetti is beyond funny [dry + sarcastic...my favorite combination].If you didn't watch the 1st season, you should! And you have to tune in and start watching season 2. You won't regret it! I promise.Let me know if you watch!talk soon.cp

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

A sunny vacation is all I can think about lately...probably because we just finished booking our yearly beach trip to Michigan with our best friends......but in reality, we're in the midst of another snow storm as I write this.Spring/summer, can you hear me? It's me, Cheryl. ;)

Friday, March 1, 2013

Today we are
talking about my favorite new bracelets by madre y hija called the “bp”!

Being March,
I am over snow, sweaters, boots, big ass coats, and black and grey.
Team, this chick needs some color and these fab bracelets do just the
trick! Best part is that they are only 14 bucks…SHUT UP!!!!!!!

Below you
will see a few shots of the new addition to my wrist collection. You can
stack em’ up on one wrist or wear them as cuffs on both, which I have been
diggin’ as of late. If you find yourself out on a hike and need a little
climbing rope, they too can come in handy as well!

The Goods:

1/2: Michael Kors watch / madre y hija 'bp' bracelet

3: madre y hija bp bracelets & madre y hija friendship bracelets

4: madre y hija bp bracelets & Michael Kors Gold bracelets

They may look
spring/summer to you but don’t be fooled, these can bring joy to your life all
year round!

Do yourself a
favor, bring a little color into your Friday!

You can shoot cp an email at cherylpisha@gmail.com to order one. She'll fill you in on the colors available, etc. Below are some samples!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Hi there.Hope you all had a lovely weekend. The master suite/bathroom project has me now looking at every square inch of our house.....to see what we can do to mix things up/change them around. I stumbled across this and it got the two thumbs up from me. I love the firewood tucked into the alcoves flanking the fireplace...love that. The whole room looks clean and orderly...without being sterile. Anyone else doing any redecorating?talk sooncpimage

Friday, February 22, 2013

Today we are
talking Winter White! And if you are one of those rule abiding
citizens who is afraid to go against the law, I am here to tell you that no
white after Labor Day is long gone friends. LONG GONE!!!!

Below you
will see my take on this ever growing trend…this girl ain’t afraid, that’s for
shiz!

A WHITE OUT

This is
taking your mother’s labor day rule and telling it to stick it. I pulled
my white & cream wool and cashmere pieces and put it all together into this
ensemble you see. I encourage mixing and matching different textures and
shades to create your all white look, as it adds dimension to the monochromatic
ensemble.

This is for
the lady who likes to listen to her mom yet rebel just a bit… it is a
bold statement since the dress is a white lace but the black turtleneck and
tights ground the look. I love white lace pretty much anytime but I find
it looks very cool when it is unexpected, hence in a full dress J

If you are
not quite sold on this white all year long idea, this may be your cup of
tea. I paired a cream sweater and black pants with a white lace
skirt. The sliver of white lace adds a little character to this otherwise
simple look. It is embracing the trend, but just testing the waters with
a little dip of the toes!

Monday, February 11, 2013

I am a collector of bags. Just ask Brett. Magazines + bags are my weakness. I just can't help myself. I mean who couldn't use a bag to toss their everyday essentials in? Or a great weekender bag for a quick trip?I mean, I know that I personally haven't purchased a bag [not a purse, but a bag] since last summer. I'm about due.These are some of my favorites.

What about you guys? Any bag lovers out there? Again, I mean bags....not purses...that's a whole other story...for another day....for another post. ;)talk sooncp1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Friday, February 8, 2013

Valentine’s
Day is next Thursday. I know this day yields some mixed emotions…some are
filled with hearts and butterflies, some are filled with bottles of wine to the
dome piece. Either way, it is a great excuse to purchase something!

I thought to
myself “MKLS, what would bring joy to my life or my loved ones?” I did
realize about half way through my search a few things A) my picks were not red
or covered in hearts B) it made me happy they weren’t red or covered in hearts
C) they are all appropriate for a man or woman…SHUT UP! A MAN OR WOMAN!

Happy
Valentine’s Day to US ALL!!!!!!!!!!

The Goods:

1.The Backpack-
I have been diggin’ backpacks lately and this one is just cool! You can
carry your love notes or bottles of booze depending on your plans!

4.The TV –Apple TV isn’t the more romantic gift on the planet, but team, it is the bomb diggity and truly the gift that keeps on giving!

5.Vans – Want to kick it old school on the 14th? These Kicks are the way to go!

6.The Blanket –Cuddling with a friend, an animal, a tub of ice cream? Why not do it with this awesome blanket.

7.Peace – Maybe love is a bit much for you this V-day, perfect time to chuck up the peace sign and make someone’s day! It would look awesome on a desk or shelf!

8.The Watch – I
normally only wear extremely large watches, like take over your whole
forearm large. But this watch took me by surprise, guess you just never
know what you may like until you meet it. J

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Let's just say if you're in Chicagoland today...you are not wearing these. But my feet long for cool summer sandals. Long for them. This pair is high on my list. With tan feet...gah!....amazing.It's almost summer, right?Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight...Happy day before Friday!talk sooncpimage

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

I didn't have a middle name growing up. I was born on December 7, 1970 and given the name Cheryl Minjares. No middle initial or name. I obviously didn't think anything of it until I was older, and realized that most people had one. Of course, that didn't stop my mom from putting me in monogrammed sweaters....she just threw the initial of her maiden name, which was 'S', and created a three letter monogram. Why not just make my middle name her maiden name when I was born? Bizarre.Anyway. I love it when people use a monogram. I often refer to people by their monogram.....my friend cck, our very own MKLS....and even I often use my own to sign things. I waited until I was nearly 40 to get a tattoo [I had always wanted one, but never knew what I should get], and when deciding what that permanent art would be, I chose a monogram..but not a traditional one. I took the 3 letters of our first names [C for Cheryl, R for Ryan and B for Brett]...cRb, to create a family monogram of sorts. It sits on the top of my right foot, and I often get comments like 'oh, I like the R you got for Ryan'....and then I explain that if you look closely, you'll see both the c and b gently intertwined in the overall R to represent our little family.What's your monogram, and do you use it in everyday life?I say give it a go.talk sooncp

Friday, February 1, 2013

Welcome Back
to Shut Up Friday’s! Today in Chi-Tizzle it is frigid, like want to just
lay down and quit when you’re walking outdoors type of cold. I thought
this would be a perfect opportunity to bring out some of my favorite winter
hats and ask the team...TEAM, What kind of Winter gal are you?

Gal #1 – “I
know my fur hat is huge, but my thumb is up because I am warm!”

Thursday, January 31, 2013

I've always been a big fan of the cuff. Maybe it has to do with loving Wonder Woman's gold cuffs as a little girl growing up, who knows...........but it's a simple, yet bold accessory.I've gathered up a few of my current favorites. Check them out...and see what you think!talk sooncp

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Meet Gayle Spannaus, J.Crew's style director and the driving force behind the brands catalogs....the ones I notoriously keep like the little magazine wh()re I am. ;)You say J.Crew, and most will instantly think of Jenna Lyons [who is also fabulous]...but this barely 5 foot tall lady is just as much a part of the company's success as Ms. Jenna. She took an opportunity to get her foot in the door by taking a gig doing the casting of models and hiring the photographers. That was 19 years ago. Eventually she moved over to styling, and the rest is history.If you google Jenna's name, thousands of pictures will pop up. Not so much with Gayle. She prefers to lead a more private life....therefore, you're lucky to get a few pics of this stylish lady. Which I, personally think is ashame. Not that she prefers to lead a private life [I think that's great]...but that we don't get to see more of her outfits. :)Orange-y red lips + pushed up sleeves = part of Gayle's signature look.I love it. AND she's in her 40's. I love it even more. ;)talk sooncp

Friday, January 25, 2013

Welcome back to Shut Up Friday’s! Today we are talking about one of my favorite go-to pieces in my winter wardrobe…the oversized black turtleneck sweater. I find that the turtleneck can trigger a love/hate relationship with some but this girl only has love for this fabulously large comfy blanket of a top!

Since I love this turtleneck so very much (I buy 2 every winter), I thought it would be a great opportunity to do a Three-Way Friday! WOO HOOOOOOOOOO! So here we go…

This little ensemble is comfy yet appropriate for drinks with the ladies, a casual Friday at the office or a hot date(some find turtlenecks to be alluringJ)

I paired it with a tulle skirt but tucked in the front to give some shape and added black boots and socks to keep the look simple since the shapes are both oversized. And then I added the camo coat and out the window goes simplicity!

This second look is a lot of black, but friends those pants you are looking at are Lululemon work out pants, oh yes they are! So yes this outfit could take you out on the town, but it can also take you to the gym or maybe to your couch! The oversized sweater pairs nicely with these pants since they are cropped and a tighter silhouette. Since the sweater is so boxy, balancing proportions is important so you don’t look like you are being swallowed!

The Goods:

Pants – Lululemon

Pumps – Coach

Vest – Old Intermix

JUMPING for Turtlenecks

So the last outfit could maybe take you to the gym, this one is made for the gym! No, I have never worked out in this ensemble but I have ran many a errands in it. I have never had a problem mixing and matching different “types” of clothes, so why stop now!